Author: Invo

By Joe Aura 

The greatest professional wrestling product in the world for the last 50 years has been the WWF, which has been known as the WWE since 2002. To be a WWE superstar, you have to be athletic and know how to create a story for dramatic effect.

Here are the 20 greatest wrestlers to grace Vince McMahon’s billionaire empire based on their ring ability, acting skills, and storytelling abilities.

20. Chris Jericho

Few wrestlers have reinvented themselves as successfully as Chris Jericho. From his “Y2J” days to “The List” and AEW stardom, Jericho’s versatility and charisma have made him a global icon.

19. Rey Mysterio

The ultimate underdog, Rey Mysterio brought lucha libre to the WWE mainstream. With incredible high-flying moves and memorable storylines, he’s a giant in wrestling despite his smaller stature.

18. Brock Lesnar

The Beast Incarnate redefined dominance in WWE, steamrolling opponents and winning multiple world titles. His real-life athletic credentials and imposing presence make him one of the most credible performers ever. While he’s not actually one we feel particularly inspired by, his legacy in the industry cannot be overlooked.

17. AJ Styles

“The Phenomenal One” didn’t join WWE until later in his career, but he quickly established himself as one of the best wrestlers of his generation. His matches are a masterclass in storytelling and athleticism – the ultimate worker.

16. Lita

With her high-flying moves and punk-rock attitude, Lita broke barriers in WWE’s Women’s Division, bringing a new level of technicality to the women’s division that had not been seen before and has been a huge influence on the women, such as Becky Lynch, who have defined the modern era of WWE.

15. Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson)

Daniel Bryan’s rise from indie darling to WWE champion is one of wrestling’s greatest underdog stories. His technical brilliance and “Yes!” movement cemented his place among the greats.

14. Becky Lynch

“The Man” broke barriers as one of the first women to headline WrestleMania and redefined WWE’s women’s division. Her charisma and in-ring talent make her one of WWE’s all-time greats.

13. Kurt Angle

An Olympic gold medalist turned wrestling superstar, Kurt Angle’s blend of technical skill and comedic timing made him a unique force in WWE. His feuds with Brock Lesnar and The Rock are unforgettable.

12. “Macho Man” Randy Savage

“Ooooh yes!” Randy Savage brought unmatched intensity to his promos and matches. With flamboyant outfits and unforgettable bouts, like his WrestleMania III match against Ricky Steamboat, Savage remains an icon almost 30 years after his prime run.

11. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

Piper’s fiery promos and villainous antics made him one of wrestling’s most captivating performers. Though he never won the WWE Championship, and only had stints as the US Champion and Intercontinental champ, his legacy as one of the greatest heels remains untouchable.

10. Triple H

The Game dominated the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras, becoming a cornerstone of WWE. Whether as a member of D-Generation X or a main-event heel, Triple H’s influence – especially as a heel – is undeniable. Not to mention he had what was, in our opinion, the best entrance of all time.

9. Jeff Hardy

A daredevil like no other, Jeff Hardy’s high-flying style and jaw-dropping Swanton Bombs made him a fan favorite. From iconic TLC matches with The Hardy Boyz to a decorated singles career, Jeff’s risk-taking redefined WWE and was responsible for some of the most heart-stopping moments we’ve ever seen in the ring.

8. John Cena

“The Champ” carried WWE on his back for over a decade, winning 16 world titles, tying with Ric Flair for the most WWE world title reigns, and transcending wrestling to become a pop culture phenomenon. Cena’s work ethic and connection with fans are second to none.

7. Bret “The Hitman” Hart

“The Best There Is, The Best There Was, and The Best There Ever Will Be” was more than a catchphrase for Bret Hart – it was a way of life. His technical excellence and storytelling set a new standard in WWE that changed the course of the company.

6. Ric Flair

Although much of Ric Flair’s legacy lies outside WWE and easily has a stake at being the greatest WCW ever saw, his tenure at Vince McMahon’s company was incredible in its own right. The 16-time world champion had out of this world charisma and changed the game when it came to in-ring psychology.

5. Hulk Hogan

The face of wrestling in the 1980s, Hogan’s charisma and catchphrases helped WWE explode in popularity. Not only that, he has enjoyed multiple runs at the top across different eras, with a remarkable comeback in the early 2000s. While his legacy has been complicated, Hogan remains a cornerstone of wrestling history.

4. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

The ultimate anti-hero, “Stone Cold” was the face of the Attitude Era and brought WWE to its highest ratings. A captivating performer in every sense, his beer-drinking, stunner-hitting antics made him a cultural icon that extended past the walls of WWE.

3. The Rock

But there is one wrestler who crossed over in a bigger way than anybody else. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s charisma and mic skills made him a crossover superstar. His WWE career is filled with unforgettable matches, memeable moments and catchphrases that still get held up in wrestling crowds to this day.

2. Shawn Michaels©Provided by Sports Unlimited News

“The Heartbreak Kid” is widely regarded as the best in-ring performer in WWE history. From his WrestleMania classics to his role in revolutionizing the industry over the course of 25 years, Shawn Michaels’ influence and legacy are virtually unparalleled.

1. The Undertaker

But when it comes to legacy and influence on the WWE, there is one man that stands above them all. The Deadman’s 30-year career is a testament to longevity and reinvention. From his 21-match undefeated WrestleMania streak to his eerie presence that completely transformed the energy of the arena, The Undertaker is the greatest the WWE ever saw.

 

By Nafisa Najmi 

The Formula One season kicked off in Melbourne Australia, from the 14th to 16th March. And it was nothing short of a spectacle weekend. Alex Jacques F1 Tv commentator explained his point of views in two words, ‘Dishevelled and entertained.’

Not only was the race eventful, but Qualifying had everyone on the edge of their seats, Q1 started with the exit of Oliver Bearman who had to retire after one lap because of gearbox issues, because of the weather and track difference a lot of cars were sliding in certain corners, sliding through the grass or gravel. Q1 ends with the cars of Kimi Antonelli, Nico Hulkenberg, Liam Lawson, Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman not progressing to Q2. The significant moments of Qualifying were many, but only one yellow flag was called at the end of Q2 when Lewis Hamilton spun with 40 seconds remaining off the session, causing a track hazard. Fortunately, Hamilton had already set a time good enough to let him progress to Q3, but the yellow flag caused Jack Doohan a good lap time, and he failed to make it to Q3 with 4 other drivers, Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, and Gabriel Bortoleto. Q3 started with unfortunately no 2025 rookies making the cut, but there was always the next day to prove themselves. Q3 was close when Lando Norris’s first lap time got deleted because of track limits, giving his competitors a chance to hit on the throttle, Max Verstappen sets the fastest time on his lap, Oscar Piastri soon takes that away on his final lap, but not even a second later, Lando Norris comes through and takes provisional pole away from the home favourite. The crowd on the edge of their seat through it all! George Russell places 4th, followed by YUKI TSUNODA, which surprised a lot of people, but he drove a magnificent lap to get himself there, Alex Albon also got the Williams to land on P6, followed by both Ferraris in P7 (Leclerc) and P8 (Hamilton), P9 for Pierre Gasly, landing Carlos Sainz in P10. The top 3 times were slim, as Lando Norris sets the time, 1:15.096, teammate Oscar Piastri only 8 tenths of a second behind with 1:15.180, Max Verstappen is down nearly four tenths on Norris’ time with a 1:15.481.

 

Sunday falls in Melbourne, and the weather is not ideal, making the conditions on track iffy, at best. With 5 rookies on the grid this year, this race was going to be an intense one.

Well, intense it was—–Rookie Driver for Racing Bulls, Isack Hadjar was already out of contention as he runs off to the barrier during the formation lap, causing heartbreak for the rookie, who seemed inconsolable as cameras followed him to the garage. Anthony Hamilton, father of Lewis Hamilton consoles the rookie, and tells the media, he felt heartbroken for Isack and his parents, because this is not the ideal debut anyone dreams off, and he hopes to see better for the rookie.

After an aborted start all the drivers take their positions again, except Bearman and Lawson, who both started their races from pitlane. The launch at the start was beautiful as Norris manages to lead the race out of turn 1, Max Verstappen sees an opportunity and overtakes the home favourite into P2, but there is a yellow flag called before anyone can finish their first lap when Jack Doohan, Australian driver for Alpine has an intense crash at the exit of turn number 5, that means 2 rookies, are already out of the race in their debut races.

The next lap we find its not only the rookies struggling in this weather as Carlos Sainz, on his debut race with Williams Racing finds the barrier, extending the yellow flag until lap 8.

Racing resumes, but the weather didn’t stop its torture as cars kept sliding and spinning off, some drivers like Antonelli and Verstappen managing to keep their cars away from the barriers, nevertheless getting overtaken by the drivers behind. Leaving both McLaren’s to battle for P1.

The pit window arrives, and drivers start to radio in complaining about their tires, when Fernando Alonso spins out and causes a yellow flag, a perfect opportunity for all the drivers to take their mandatory pitstops. The track was drying up, making everyone switch to medium and hard tyres, McLaren execute a perfect double stack pitstop that does not change their positions on the grid as Norris maintains first place, with the Australian hero right behind him. This was not over, as the clouds are getting grayer, causing distress for teams, and intense discussion between the drivers and pit wall.

The race takes a heart-breaking turn for Oscar Piastri when him and his teammate slide off on the grass at the penultimate corner of the race track, Norris manages to save himself and his position as race leader but Oscar slides into the grass and seems to stick there for a few minutes. To his credit, he refused to give up, as he reversed and got his car moving, restarting the race a lap behind the whole grid. Losing P2 at his home race, this was a gutting sight and if the roar from the crowd was enough of a sign, all the Aussies agree.

The yellow flag from Oscars spin causes Lando to pit and change his tires, making him lose the lead to Verstappen who stays out, another uproar from the crowd. Soon enough Verstappen pits, Lando re-joins the grid at 7th place behind the cars who hadn’t pitted for wet tires yet. Lewis Hamilton leads the Grand Prix, ahead of new teammate Charles Leclerc, but Norris isn’t easy on the un-pitted Ferraris as he immediately takes P2 away from Leclerc and chases Hamilton for P1. Norris is now P1, with the Ferraris behind him, when Liam Lawson, rookie driver for Redbull Racing spins off and finds the wall, soon joined by Gabriel Bortoleto, rookie driver for Kick Sauber F1 team who also goes off and sees the end of his debut Grand Prix.

The race doesn’t stop there, as we see both the Ferraris, the Alpine of Pierre Gasly, and the McLaren of Oscar Piastri battle it out for the last few positions in points, as Charles and Lewis manage to pass Gasly and take P8 and P9, Oscar Piastri right behind Gasly hunting him down, making a quick move on him and taking P10, but it all comes down to the final lap.

Verstappen and Norris have half a second between them as Norris leads Verstappen to the finish line, Norris takes the first chequered flag of 2025, his fellow teammate making a move on Lewis Hamilton and taking P9. What a spectacle of a race, as only two rookies manage to finish their first races of a full season, one of them, Kimi Antonelli, ends up P4, after his penalty is revoked after the race. Oliver Bearman, who did not have a good run in the free practices and Qualifying, still managed to finish the race P14. Alex Albon in the Williams, drove a fantastic race up to P5, and had praise for the car, his teammate Carlos Sainz, who gave input on his race strategy, what a class act of driver pairing and a exciting pair to keep an eye on, for the next 23 races of the season.

This race wasn’t just about the drivers, but the pit wall as well, as teams scrambled to make sure they were keeping their drivers updated and their strategies intact, but the Ferrari pit wall isn’t safe from backlash, as the drivers complained about too much information on the radio, and asking to be left alone during the race. The biggest moment of surprise being; when Charles Leclerc reports a leakage in his car and says his seat is filled with water, his racing engineer responds, ‘Must be the water,’ confirming to the fans, it was obviously not going to be a champagne shower for the Monegasque driver. Furthermore, the Italian team causes a disaster of a pit strategy and fails to adapt under the wet race conditions, while their rivals McLaren and Redbull nail the strategy for their drivers. Lewis Hamilton’s debut race with Ferrari ends with him in P10, his teammate taking P8. The Tifosi are praying for things to change, as they have waited long enough for things to improve.

 

The final placements of the race were; the top step for Lando Norris, followed by Max Verstappen (P2), George Russel (P3), Kimi Antonelli (P4), Alex Albon (P5), Lance Stroll (P6), Nico Hulkenburg (P7), Charles Leclerc (P8), Oscar Piastri (P9), Lewis Hamilton (P10), Pierre Gasly (P11), Yuki Tsunoda (P12), Esteban Ocon (P13), Oliver Bearman (P14). Followed by 6 drivers, who unfortunately did not finish the first race of 2025.

 

By: Leeroy Wuone

leeroywuone02@gmail.com

Lando Norris led an impressive pole to podium win at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit which started at 3pm Australian time at the Albert Park circuit In Australia.

Lando’s win for McLaren was impressive showcasing his ability of capitalizing other drivers’ misfortunes to his gain. Seasoned drivers like Carlos Sainz who competes for Williams and Fernando Alonso who competes for Aston Martin showed the unpredictability of the track at times, as both are experienced Formula one drivers.

Heavy rainy weather conditions before the start of the race led to soaking of the track which caused low grip levels as the track was slippery and wet due to its smooth asphalt and painted lines.

Tight corners and walls also caused nightmares to several drivers; an example is Alonso’s loss of control when his torque induced spinning which resulted in contact with walls, also a result of the slippery track causing him to exit the race.

Torque is the rotational force produced by the cars power unit engine that drives the wheels through transmission, torque is very crucial for quick exits from slow corners (like hairpins in Melbourne’s turn 9 and Monaco)

A hairpin on the other hand is a very sharp 180-degree turn in a race truck which requires a driver to apply significant change in direction, heavy breaking and also determines how drivers will either loose or gain significant lap time.

Temperature sensitivity of Melbourne kept the track temperatures low making it harder for the drivers to get their tyres working in the right conditions.

After the post Alonso crash many of the drivers opted for slicks only for the rains to pour again affecting drivers such as Liam Lawson (Red bull racing).

In a heartbreaking yet heartwarming moment Anthony Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton’s dad was seen consoling Isack Hadjar on his way to the paddock after crashing out in the formation lap leading to his retirement. When a driver retires it means they are forced to leave the race due to a mechanical issue or another problem with their car.

Formula one race cars have different tire sets for different scenarios;

Slick tires are made of soft, sticky rubber components which ensure maximum grip with the asphalt on track. Lack of tread on slicks ensures optimal traction on a dry surface, these kind of tires are also best for dry tracks only, which was an opposing factor at the Albert circuit making drivers lose control due to less grip with the asphalt surface.

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) lost his grip when sudden downpour hit after drivers were forced to switch to slick tires. He span off at the corner sliding into the grass and losing significant lap time as he had to recover. This costed a McLaren potential one two podium finish as Piastri was overtaken by Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

Beginner Isack Hadjar (Racing bulls) lost his grip at the opening lap even before the race started. As he exited turn one on intermediate tires, he span into the barriers triggering an aborted start.

Intermediate tires have a green band designed for wet tracks but not heavily flooded. In addition they are quicker than full wet tires on a damp track or when a track is drying out after rain offering a balance between slick and full wet tires.

Moreover, they have small cuts with shallow grooves and a rubber compound being harder than the slicks but softer than full wets balancing grip by allowing water to sip away. In today’s Australian Grand Prix drivers used intermediate tires due to wet weather conditions before the start of the race.

Full wet tires on the other hand have deeper grooves and offer more water dispersion and they are the best in heavy consistent rain.

Australian beginner Jack Doohan (Alpine) was forced to exit as he lost grip in the wet conditions colliding with the boarder wall on the first lap prompting a safety car.

Kimi Antonelli, an eighteen year old Italian driver who drives for (Mercedes) overtook Nico Hulkenberg who drives for (Sauber) at turn 11.The Mercedes switch from slicks to intermediates during the end stages of the race also helped Kimi capitalize on other drivers’ misfortunes. Starting from P17 to P4 crossing the line and passing several experienced drivers where rain caused spins and crashes; proved his adaptability despite his limited wet weather experience.

The strategic impact of the race was crucial as seen in the formation lap, Hadjar’s crash showed the impact of over warming of intermediate tires. In mid race teams opted for slicks for increased speeds but the rains punished drivers who didn’t switch strategically to intermediates as seen by Red Bull’s Lawson which would have been slower but safer for him.

Poor communication on the other hand costed the Ferrari pair as Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton’s request for a stop at the Pitts for a change to intermediate tires proved futile with the team opting for the pair to stay on track.

Ill-timed pit stop decisions from team Ferrari kept Hamilton and Leclerc on slick tires on an additional lap as drivers such as Lando Norris of McLaren pitted immediately for intermediate tires in readiness for the rainy weather conditions. As a result Hamilton lost 15 seconds to Norris on that lap alone, while Leclerc dropped 12 seconds which both drivers could not recover.

The Ferrari teams’ blander on tire timing and a lack of decisive action from the pit wall upon a request for intermediaries from slicks over the radio, forced both drivers to swing into recovery mode instead of attacking for points.

The Chinese Grand Prix scheduled for March 23rd at the Shanghai International circuit will be another chance for the drivers to competitively seek for an improvement from the race today; this will be the second round of the 2025 season.